I will open by telling you that this story will break your heart. Please know this will not be easy to read, but it is a story that needs to be told.

On November 20 here in Churchill, just east of Gordon Point, we saw the tragic loss of a 11-month-old cub and the grieving of the loss by its mother. We did not witness the actual death but the aftermath: a young adult female with her cub was attacked by an adult male polar bear. The female lost the battle as the large male overpowered her and killed her cub. Valiantly she charged him and tried to get her cub back, but it was too late.

Soon other bears arrived in the area, but the large male prevailed and began to consume the small body in a hill of willow bushes. Still the mother continued to wander the area with every hope of saving her cub. The male eventually moved the small body out to the coast where the mother had less opportunity to charge him, but he left much of the pelt behind.

The mother bear carries her cub's pelt.

The mother continued to circle the male, risking even more harm from the other bears gathering if not from the male. Eventually she moved back to the willows, desperately searching for her cub. What she found was the pelt. She picked the pelt up in her mouth, carrying it and swinging her head side to side, a behavior that bears do in extreme stress. The mother charged at the other bears, never dropping her precious possession. She wandered in this manner for a long time. We left her at dark still very unsettled, but she had finally placed her cub’s remains near a willow bush, protected from the wind.

It was indeed heartbreaking. We don’t really understand why this sometime happens. But in my nine years of visiting Churchill, it is the first time I have seen this. Many of my colleagues who have been here for decades have not witnessed this. We don’t know why, but this is the third cub death this year caused by another bear. I can only hope this is not a sign of what is to come as we lose yet more ice to our warming climate.

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37 Reader Comments

Susan (UK)

Posted November 27, 2009 at 1:07 PM

Oh JoAnne this is so sad. I’m sorry, I don’t know what to say, I feel so badly for the mother. RIP little one.

Lainie

Posted November 27, 2009 at 2:15 PM

Sorry you had to witness this event Joanne. As it is sad to hear, and I know tell. I’m glad to say the least, that this cub did not find his fate at the hands of a human. Nature can be cruel, I agree, and I also hope this is not the signs of what is to come due to global warming. We need our bears !

Carolyn in MA

Posted November 27, 2009 at 2:56 PM

What a terribly sad scene for you to observe JoAnne. And to think there are those who do not believe animals have feelings or emotions. A few years back a crow had been killed in my yard by a hawk and many of it’s feathers were scattered about. At one point during the day I heard a sound, unlike any I had heard before. When I looked out the window, a flock of crows was walking amongst the feathers picking them up and putting them down all the while making this moaning sound from their throats that could only be described as grief. Clearly this was a member of their family. As our climate continues to warm and the ice disappears, I pray that the polar bears will somehow be able to adapt. And I hope we will all stop and think about how our actions and purchases will affect the climate.

Nancy

Posted November 27, 2009 at 3:43 PM

My heart is breaking for that mother. Something had to drive that bear to kill that cub. I hope too that this is not the start of a horrible consequence of our environmental short-sightedness.

I’m sorry that you had to see that.

njr_in_sd

Posted November 27, 2009 at 3:58 PM

How sad. It sounds from your post like the bears have not moved out onto the ice yet. Is the ice forming a bit later than usual this year?

Diane in Victoria

Posted November 27, 2009 at 5:36 PM

Tragic.

Lid

Posted November 27, 2009 at 5:53 PM

I told myself not to read this..like I said on other blogs about Polar bears..it is really heartbreaking knowing these facts and sad events…I’m so sorry for the lost..I’m just lost for words

Joe in Maryland

Posted November 27, 2009 at 5:55 PM

The earth is in a cooling period stop hyping GLOBAL WARMING sounds like it is just part of nature kind of like when Male Lions kill others offspring, not saying it is the same as it is with Lions but can we stop blaming everything on so-called Global Warming!

Susan in NJ

Posted November 27, 2009 at 8:51 PM

My heart breaks for that poor mother. I’m so sorry you had to witness this JoAnne.

Marie from Yorba Linda, CA

Posted November 27, 2009 at 11:43 PM

To Joe in Maryland:

I agree with you 1000%,Joe. I didn’t read Joanne’s entry but I did read the comments. It sounds to me like nature at work. Male polar bears kill bear cubs – that’s one of the reasons the mothers are so protective of the cubs. Knut, the polar bear cub that was abandoned by his mother and then raised by Thomas Dörflein in Berlin Zoo, was never allowed to be around the adult polar bears, as they would probably have killed him. Knut had, and still has, his own private enclosure. Man-made global warming is the biggest fraud to come down the pike in many a moon!! The planet has been in existence for thousands of years and has gone through global warming and global cooling countless times, without interference from humans.

Gail church

Posted November 28, 2009 at 8:36 AM

Polar Bears: Tundra Heartbreak

With the artic water warming the polar bears arrive at the bay with no ice to use as a platform to feed. Would this be a factor in the male attacks, their hunger drives to kill the young?

Jelle Boef

Posted November 28, 2009 at 9:40 AM

This IMO is EXACTLY the indication that climate change is affecting the polar bears. They would not have to resort to infanticide if available food sources would be there in abundance. On shore they only stay for a period of lean times before the sea ice freezes over and they can cross onto the ocean area to hunt seals, walrus and whales. Since, the melting of sea ice happens earliers every year up north and the freezing over is completed weeks later than was usual say 10-15 years ago … these extended periods become a extended period of feeding stress. The killing of a cub is just that … to up on the fat reserves for these bears. We have a duty to step in … and investigate … and not let it be … beyond collating data any more. We need to act …. with the SCIENTIFIC DATA and FACTS!!!

Jay

Posted November 28, 2009 at 9:45 AM

From the previous post about One Eyed Jack being aware and recognizing the writer several years in a row as well as the behavior of the mother bear in this post, these bears have complex feelings as well as great intelligence. They adapt and solve problems, encountered. The sadness in both stories still gives a lesson in how important it is to save the complex polar bear and the vast frontier of knowledge, yet to be tapped, regarding their importance to the planet. Thanks for educating people to see traits in them that most do not know exist.

Karen of Phoenix, AZ

Posted November 28, 2009 at 11:01 AM

This is so sad. I feel bad for the mom.

Gloria

Posted November 28, 2009 at 12:05 PM

JoAnne, you are such a trooper. Thanks for the article, I know that was hard for you to witness and to write about. I was sorry I couldn’t get back up to Churchill this year. I enjoyed it so much last year and you were a terrific bunk mate. Remember those crazy idea’s you and I talked about? Perhaps they don’t seem as far fetched now. I hope to see you and the bears again real soon. Gloria ;0)

Carolyn in MA

Posted November 28, 2009 at 3:02 PM

I have also seen documentaries discussing how female polar bears must place and protect their cubs from wandering males looking for food. Yet these episodes happened out on the ice out of human view for the most part. The fact that this is occurring close in to human habitat suggests unusual stress such as lack of access to natural food sources. No, we don’t know if we are in a natural cooling period or are contributing to the events ourselves or a combination of the two. Polar bears seem to be extremely dependent on specific conditions and I can only hope that natural selection will help them adapt to these changing conditions in regards to food sources. But I do think it is vitally important to be open to all observations and information. Once the mind is closed, nothing can be learned.

Lil

Posted November 28, 2009 at 6:25 PM

What a sad story… I cannot imagine witnessing this in person. My heart breaks for the little one and its mother. Rest in peace, little one.

#12 – Right on, Jelle! I pray that we can make the changes necessary to save the habitat of these magnificent creatures.

Debi

Posted November 28, 2009 at 7:20 PM

This is terrible to hear, so I can only imagine how you felt while witnessing it. I know people who live in Northern Canada and they too are firm believers that because there is less ice formation and harder to hunt that bears will turn against each other, especially toward cubs, in order to feed and survive. I believe any animal would do so, but this is just a plain example of what is happening. There are also female polar bears deserting their young because they cannot feed them and survive. This mother must be so stressed out. I keep thinking what would happen to Bai right now if her cub died? She gets so distressed when he isn’t in the den or can’t find him in the dark. That bond is so strong and full of love.

I would like to add a happy note. Maybe it is just wishful thinking, but last night I dreamt that late next week Chinook suddenly began to show signs of denning up. I don’t even know what their denning habits would be, but she was dragging burlap and pine branch material into the den! Crossing my fingers!

Diane in Victoria

Posted November 28, 2009 at 11:43 PM

As I have thought about this further, I remembered an incident when I was there in 2007. There was a male bear who attempted to prey on a cub whose mother had misplaced it. I didn’t see it, but evidently the drama lasted all morning. In the end the mother found the cub in time and led it away. The big male was dubbed “Babykiller”. Perhaps it was the same bear.

Brenda in Arizona

Posted November 29, 2009 at 2:59 PM

I told myself I would likely regret reading this story, but I couldn’t stop myself and now, as I type this, my eyes are full of tears. How incredibly tragic for the mother and her cub. I couldn’t imagine being there to witness this, let alone share it, but it needs to be told, I agree. As others have said, I really hope this isn’t a sign of what’s to come…larger bears preying on cubs because there isn’t enough to eat. Something has got to be done to make sure these wonderful creatures don’t die out. It’s bad enough if it happens due to man, but even worse if they kill each other because of what we’ve done to their world.

marcia from PA

Posted November 29, 2009 at 4:35 PM

Omg…this story just breaks my heart.

Roxanne

Posted November 29, 2009 at 8:04 PM

Global Warming is very real and the Polar Bears are suffering and close to extincton.

barbara

Posted November 30, 2009 at 8:14 AM

how heartbreaking for the mother and those who witnessed this tragic event. Maybe soon people will wake up and realize what’s happening to our planet before it’s to late and all of the lives that will be lost.

Cindy "avid bear stalker"

Posted November 30, 2009 at 10:08 AM

What a sad story I’m so sorry you had to witness that; but thank you so much for sharing the story with us. I recall seeing a documentary once where the ice had not formed yet and there was a male polar bear trailing a mom and cub. The male was able to catch up to them and won the fight and he did consume the cub. As tragic as the story is it’s also survival of the fittest. Nevertheless it’s a very heartbreaking occurance. On a much happier note I haven’t been able to watch my bears because because I went back to work, but boy did I get a treat @ 930am. Tat and kalluk were at the edge of the exhibit and chinook was the top of hers and it seemed as if they were having a pleasant conversation. What I would give to have sound on these cameras. Then chinook came down her trail and sat across from one of the bears and they just sat there conversating with one another. Well JoAnne please keep is informed. And moderator any updates available at this time.

Sethu

Posted November 30, 2009 at 5:18 PM

How sad!!! I’m so sorry you had to see that! I feel bad for the mother bear! Poor thing!!! =(

kathy, canada

Posted November 30, 2009 at 5:46 PM

People forget that we are also animals and once upon a time women had baby after baby and it was only in the 19th century that mortality rates improved for both child and mother. Before the 19th century, 1 out of every 2 babies died at birth as well as 1 out of every 2 mothers giving birth. It’s not fair to say ‘that is nature’ and ignore it, if fellow humans hadn’t bothered to improve life for us by striving to invent methods to save us – we would be in the same position. We have a duty and an obligation to help endangered species enjoy the same benefits that we have. When we have hunted every species to extinction and destroyed the last of their habititat and the planet is full of wall to wall people fighting for water and food – what do you think will happen? They will start doing exactly what this male adult did out of desperation. If we don’t take action now then future generations will suffer for our ignorance and our negligence and humans will hunt each other to extinction.

Survival of the fittest doesn’t mean the best survive – that is a mistake often made by people who do not really understand evolution but chose to repeat one misunderstood phrase. I suggest reading The Selfish Gene if you truly want to understand how evolution works at the cellular level – once you see how cancer cells operate you will never see that phrase in the same light again. Stronger doesn’t necessarily mean better for survival, in fact the strongest is often the most corrupt and destructive for all species alike.

Thank you Joanne for sharing your story with us, I am sorry you had to witness such a heartbreaking scene. Let us hope that mankind stops believing in fairy tales and starts believing in life and science and that they wake up to what is happening to our planet before all the wonderful species we share this planet with are gone.

kimmi

Posted November 30, 2009 at 8:17 PM

Very sad. But it is nature. Thank you for telling us that it was sad before we read it. Good comments #8 and #10. Stay safe up there and have fun JoAnne.

Susan (UK)

Posted December 1, 2009 at 12:23 AM

Kathy, a very thought provoking post. I see politicians going down the route of cutting emissions etc but, there’s one major point they have conveniently forgotten – planning for the inevitable changes that WILL happen regardless. Why aren’t plans being made, and implemented, to make sure that we are able to sustain ourselves in the future. When you look back into the history books and discover how many different peoples were wiped out due to massive weather change you realise that something has to be done. We have the ability to help ourselves out of this but no-one seems to plan for the future. The same has to be done for all animals. It is inevitable that some species will be lost, but something has to be done.

Anita

Posted December 4, 2009 at 11:07 PM

What a heartbreaking story ! How cruel to the bear cub and his mom !
JoAnne, I’m sorry that you witnessed this tragedy. Hoping that it is not a trend for the bears to survive. Polar bears take thousands of years to evolve themselves to adapt the extremely cold weather and harsh living environment. But now, the climate is being changed and turned to be more warmer, it is hard to turn back. It seems that they have to change their hunting method or practice, even to change their food in order to survive. But I don’t think they have enough time to evolve again.

Carol

Posted December 5, 2009 at 8:53 AM

For those interested in baby bear noises, the Zoo Borns web site has some adorably loud vidoes of new born squealing polar cubs, one showing one actually being born. SDZ this is what in store for mommy Chinnok.

Dianne in Texas

Posted December 7, 2009 at 4:25 PM

This planet is warming because of human need to constantly “improve” our living standards (it’s actually the need to make more money), burning more fuel oils, drive bigger cars/trucks, etc. The portion of humans who are denying this happening should go witness the melting of the polar caps. The polar bears are losing the ice upon which they do their hunting for food…their life’s sustenance. They are hungry!

I’m sorry for this poor mother, who may never have the opportunity to produce another cub. Yes, some rogue males do stalk bear cubs, but this is happening far too often to assume it’s “natural” behavior. JoAnne, we are in sympathy that you witnessed this tragedy. Thank you for the report, albeit a very sad one.

Anita

Posted December 8, 2009 at 11:09 PM

Hi JoAnne, I’ve just read the news that happened on 20 Nov 2009 that a hungry male polar bear eating a cub. I think it related to that you witnessed. I was shocked by those bloody pictures which tell us it is the reality of the polar bears world. Is it their or all living creatures’ natural behavior ? I just hope that we human can help these poor bears.

nancy from michigan

Posted December 15, 2009 at 6:02 PM

I totally agree # 8 & #10 I believe in nature & god! what happened thousands of years ago when all the people, tecnology, scientists and pollution weren’t around? yet the earth changed and animals became extinct didn’t they? a few years ago the scientists were all ranting about a coming ice-age!!!! the earth and nature keeps evolving and there is nothing we can do to keep the ice from melting. we cannot control mother nature! the polar bear behavior that was described in this article by joanne is the nature of the beast whether we like it or not. yes it is sad! but, look at male lions. they will kill a female’s cubs by another male so that only his genes are dominate. many animals will kill young cubs because it is easier ad they don’t have to work as hard to get a meal. we all love the animals, but they are not pets or toys and live in a wild world and kill to eat, live & survive. the babies sometimes don’t make it and make us sad!

Marian Leung

Posted February 4, 2010 at 5:03 AM

Sometimes the mama polar bears are most likely human. They raise their cubs in single, be affectionate, potect their cubs to die for … that’s why i love polar bear so much!

Brooklynn "Yun Zi's #1 FANATIC" D.

Posted March 6, 2010 at 6:19 PM

Well, if Kalluk ever becomes a father (If he ever gets Chinook pregnant) Im pretty sure he wouldn’t do something like that. Wait, do you have to separate Kalluk from Chinook if she has a cub(s)?

Moderator’s note: Yes, we would separate them.

Brooklynn "Yun Zi's #1 FANATIC" D.

Posted March 7, 2010 at 8:55 AM

Ok thanks! 🙂

Bernice

Posted February 17, 2012 at 4:32 PM

When humans are starving they too will become canabals. We help starving humans why cant we supplement the bears diet during their lean times. Canabals develop a liking for the flavor of their own kind even when there is no shortage of food.

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